“How long have I been here?”
“Only a few hours. You weren’t kidding. You heal fast. I was just getting ready to get some sleep when my mom called. She’s bringing over soup.”
He winced. “Does she hate me?”
Amber cupped his face. Ran her thumb over his unshaven jaw. Looked at him like he’d hung the moon. If she only knew how wrong she was. He could only imagine how bad he looked. She didn’t seem to care. “She could never hate you. My stepdad, however, is a little miffed.”
“Great.”
She laughed softly. “They love you, Quentin. Nothing will change that.”
“And you?”
She swung her legs up onto the bed and sat cross-legged. “What about me?”
He chuckled, then asked in alarm, “Wait, how did you get me here?”
The grin she flashed him stole his breath. “Remember Hawaii? Steve?”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. We owe that man dinner. Or possibly a small island. He helped me get you to the truck and then drove my car while I drove you.”
He shook his head. “Why?”
“Apparently, he is a fan of the supernatural.”
“Nice. What about the Tavern?”
“I’m still waiting to hear. We got out of there pretty fast, but the whole town heard the commotion. We’ll probably get a bill any day now. Or arrested. It’s hard to say.”
His gaze traveled the length of her. “It’ll be worth it.”
* * * *
Amber watched as he took her in, giddy about the fact that he even wanted to. After all this time, Quentin Rutherford was back in her life. But she didn’t want to make a big deal about it, to pressure him, so she changed the subject. “I can’t get over how well you know English now.”
“Rune. Yammering in my head ad nauseam.”
“Was it just me, or were you embarrassed to speak to me at first?”
“I was, yes.” He looked away. “I don’t sound right.”
She brushed a lock of hair off his brow. “You sound perfect.”
“But you can still tell I’m Deaf.”
“You can still tell you have hearing loss. Is that bad? I mean, you used to speak a word here and there all the time. You were never embarrassed before.”
“I’d never heard my voice before.”
In her head, she said, You mean the panty-melting, bone-dissolving, orgasm-inducing voice that she would never grow tired of hearing? Out loud, she said, “Oh, I see.”
“You called it Q&A Investigations.”
“What?” She was still on the panty-melting portion of the program.
“Your business. You named it after the business we started in high school.”
“I did. It seemed appropriate.”
“Amber.” He took her hand. “You could’ve become anything. Why are you a PI?”
“What’s wrong with being a PI?”
“Nothing. It’s just… You’re so smart.”
“You thought I would become a doctor or a lawyer or something.”
“Something like that.”
“I had a calling. What can I say? I wanted to follow in Aunt Charley’s footsteps.”
His gaze landed on her mouth and stayed there. “When is your mom going to be here?”
“Probably any minute.”
“How much time do you think we have?”
“Probably not much.”
He nodded in disappointment.
“No,” she said, snuggling beside him, “I mean, we should hurry.”
“Oh. Right. Okay, then.” He sent a hand under the waistband of her boxers.
“Wait,” she said, stopping it from reaching the motherland. “What does Rune do when you…when we…you know?”
“Shouldn’t you have thought of that before?”
“Hardly the point.”
He filled his lungs. “I won’t lie to you, Amber. He’s kind of a part of it.” When she only stared at him, he sank back onto the pillows. “I don’t even know where I stop and he starts anymore.”
She couldn’t imagine how he felt. To have something inside you that could take control like that. And she’d sicced Rune on him. Forced Quentin to stand down.
“I don’t blame you if you don’t want to have sex ever again.”
“Please.” She propped herself up, gazed into his eyes, and then delved into his mind. “Rune, look away.”
Hundreds of thousands of Rune-ians—Rune-ites?—turned away from her in unison. “Wow, did you know the citizens of Rune all have these long, curved spikes on their backs?”
“Yeah, I don’t care,” Quentin said, right before attacking.
He really did recover fast.
* * * *
Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Darynda Jones, discover The Graveyard Shift.
Sign up for the 1001 Dark Nights Newsletter
and be entered to win a Tiffany Key necklace.
There's a contest every month!
Click here to subscribe.
As a bonus, all subscribers can download FIVE FREE exclusive books!
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Eight
Click here for more information.
DRAGON REVEALED by Donna Grant
A Dragon Kings Novella
CAPTURED IN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan
A Montgomery Ink: Boulder Novella
SECURING JANE by Susan Stoker
A SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series Novella
WILD WIND by Kristen Ashley
A Chaos Novella
DARE TO TEASE by Carly Phillips
A Dare Nation Novella
VAMPIRE by Rebecca Zanetti
A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella
MAFIA KING by Rachel Van Dyken
A Mafia Royals Novella
THE GRAVEDIGGER’S SON by Darynda Jones
A Charley Davidson Novella
FINALE by Skye Warren
A North Security Novella
MEMORIES OF YOU by J. Kenner
A Stark Securities Novella
SLAYED BY DARKNESS by Alexandra Ivy
A Guardians of Eternity Novella
TREASURED by Lexi Blake
A Masters and Mercenaries Novella
THE DAREDEVIL by Dylan Allen
A Rivers Wilde Novella
BOND OF DESTINY by Larissa Ione
A Demonica Novella
THE CLOSE-UP by Kennedy Ryan
A Hollywood Renaissance Novella
MORE THAN POSSESS YOU by Shayla Black
A More Than Words Novella
HAUNTED HOUSE by Heather Graham
A Krewe of Hunters Novella
MAN FOR ME by Laurelin Paige
A Man In Charge Novella
THE RHYTHM METHOD by Kylie Scott
A Stage Dive Novella
JONAH BENNETT by Tijan
A Bennett Mafia Novella
CHANGE WITH ME by Kristen Proby
A With Me In Seattle Novella